Leibster Blog Award

A big thank you to the lovely Dannielle from D is for... who tagged/ nominated my blog for a Leibster Blog Award, such a nice surprise especially after a week´s break from my updating my blog for my Easter holiday. This blogging malarky is pretty fun! Apparently Leibster is German for ´beloved´ and the idea of it is to promote awareness and recognition of new bloggers. So everyone is a winner really, yay!

So, here are the rules that I will dutifully abide by:
1. Share 11 things about yourself.
2. Answer the 11 questions that the person who tagged you asked.
3. Choose 11 blogs to nominate - they must have less than 200 Google Friend Connect Followers and tell them via comment on their blog.
4. Ask their 11 questions.
5. Thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.

Ok let´s see... 11 things about me. 

1. I´m a big fan of Wigan Rugby League.
2. I´m getting married this year on......Friday 13th September. Yes really, superstition is being thrown outta the window.
3. I used to work in Monsoon and I´m getting most of my family´s wedding clothes from there including my dress.
4. I have a BA in English Literature and I love reading
5. I learnt how to practise TM (Transcendental Meditation)
6. I am very allergic to avocados. They make me vomit and writhe around on the floor in agony. Avoid.
7. My guilty pleasure is Girls Aloud. I love them, especially Kimberley.
8. I cycle to work and never drive although I have a legal licence. Luckily the city I live in has cycle paths all over it.
9. My favourite newspaper is the Guardian, although I should spent more time reading it rather than online shopping/ browsing.
10. I love doing cross stitch as its very relaxing.
11. My friends and workmates don´t know that I blog!


Here are my answers to Dannielle´s questions:


What is your biggest fear? Something bad happening to one of my family. I don´t live in the UK anymore and sometimes feel too far away.
If you had to be a character from any film for a day, who would it be and why? That´s difficult, hmmm... what about Marie Antoinette in Sofia Coppola´s film, big frilly frocks, macarons, flouncing around the gardens. It would have to be a day before all it all kicked off in France though obviously!
Do you know exactly where you want to be in 5 years time? More relaxed, happily married, and with a few kiddies!
Would you rather go shopping for lots of cheaper things or a few expensive things? That´s difficult as I love bargains, but sometimes expensive treats are worth it! If its clothes then lots of cheaper things, if its cosmetics or make up then expensive things.
Have you got any nicknames? Not really, maybe some that out of context would sound odd so I won´t bother writing them! 
If you had to create your own business what would it be? A coffee shop with a reading and creative writing corner by day which becomes a  wine bar with stand up comedy and bands in the evening.
What did you dress up as for Halloween last year? (And if you didn't dress up, what wouldyou have dressed up as?) I was a vampiress. I wanted to go as Lady Macbeth but I left it to the last minute and couldn´t sort it out. Maybe next time...
Are you going on holiday this summer? Yes, for my honeymoon, Im not sure where we´re going yet, maybe the Greek Islands, or maybe Thailand. 
What's top of your bucket list? I must be completely out of touch as I had to google that, OK, things to do before I die...well I could say write a book, see the Taj Mahal,  etc but I don´t really like to set those types of goals, I´d just like to be wonderfully happy, make the right decisions and not have any regrets when it ends. 
Do you prefer nights in or nights out? Nights out, especially in the summer and especially the unplanned ones you just go along with which end up being the most fun. Nights in when you are tired and have a good film and some decent wine are great too though.
What never fails to make you smile? Being tickled.

My turn to make questions for my nominees:

1. What was your first word?

2. What would be your ideal job?

3. What literary character do you most identify with?

4. If a big bag of money to spend on only one clothes item what would you buy?

5. What language would you speak if you could learn any others?

6. What´s your earliest memory?

7. What´s your guiltiest pleasure?

8. Do you belive in karma?

9. What´s your favourite expression or saying?

10. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live?

11. Why did you start blogging?

And finally here are my nominees:

gardenofeden

kittyhannon

barberella

beuniquelybeautiful

beautytricks1

notoriouseyes

fiveminutestyle

helenrambleson

indiebyheart

Cutwork trend

I love the cutwork trend this spring, especially on bags and purses. It´s a bit of a reoccuring theme and I think it adds a bit of interest to otherwise simple things. 

Large bag from Oasis.

Link here (£40 from Asos)

Clutch purse from New Look.

Link here (£12.99 from Asos)

Cutwork bead top from Topshop

Link here (£36.00)

Dress from Blancosuite.

Link here (17,99 €)

Pink skirt from New Look

Link here (£16.99)

The Miranda Kerr jacket

I´m a little bit delighted with my latest purchase from Mango, the suede light beige jacket you have probably seen with the uber-gorgeous Miranda Kerr. It didn´t disappoint when I saw it instore and I tried it on and knew it had to come home with me. And its real leather and only 59.99 Euros so not bad at all. As there is still no sign of spring, not even a single ray of sunshine, just heavy rain and snow back home in the UK, I will get lots of wear out of this little jacket. Something interesting to know is that it comes in various colours, including pale pink, so for me it´s a case of resisting further temptation! There is a pleated coral skirt I have my eye on too. Tell me your thoughts, have you bought anything from Mango recently? I hope you enjoy Easter, I´ll be back next weekend. 

Estoy un poco encantado con mi última adquisición de Mango, la chaqueta de ante en beige claro que seguramente hayáis visto con el tan-guapa-que-es-ridículo Kerr Miranda. No me decepcionó cuando lo vi en directo y en cuanto  que me lo probé, supe que tenía que venir a casa conmigo. Y su piel auténtica y sólo 59,99 Euros, así que no está mal en absoluto! Como todavía no existe un signo de la primavera, ni siquiera un solo rayo de sol, sólo fuertes lluvias y incluso nieve en mi pueblo de Reino Unido, pues voy a tener un montón de uso de la chaqueta. Algo interesante es saber que viene en varios colores, como rosa pálido, así que para mí es un caso de resistir la tentación de más! Para ahora hay una falda plisada coral tengo fichado. A ver que piensa mi hermana quien me visita este semana santa. Dime tus pensamientos, te he comprado nada de Mango recientemente? Espero que paséis un buen semana santa, vuelvo el fin de semana que viene! 

Here it is!

Review: Chanel Poudre Universaille/ Loose Powder

Well if you can´t splash out on luxury products for your wedding when can you? This is a beautiful powder that sets your make up, gives your skin a silky smooth look and feel, and leaves you shine free all day. You have to apply it very lightly, just a sprinkling to set your face. It´s a surprisingly huge tub that with the classic Chanel black and gold packaging, and it looks gorgeous on your dressing table. I bought this in 30 Naturel- Translucent 2 as I found, despite being very fair, the lightest tone (Clair) was too chalky white for my skin tone. As this is a pretty expensive loose powder, it´s Chanel darling after all, I wouldn´t buy it for everyday use, but it you have a special event, why not? If you´re serious about your face powder, it will last ages and it´s a lovely finely-milled quality. I use a kabuki brush to apply it as I can blend it in better, if you prefer you can use the very soft puff applicator if you want to pat the powder onto your face instead. It´s a gorgeous product, weightless, natural and makes the skin look healthy. 

Bueno, si no se puede gastar en productos de lujo para su boda cuando se puede? Este es un hermoso polvo que fija el maquillaje, le da a su piel un aspecto suave y sedoso, y te deja sin brillo todo el día. Hay que aplicarlo muy a la ligera para evitar que se da a la piel un aspecto acartonado, aunque el acabado es mas bien satinado. El producto es sorprendentemente enorme que con el embalaje clásico de Chanel en negro y oro, se ve hermosa en su tocador! Compré esto en 30 Naturel-Translucent 2 como encontré el tono más claro, Clair, era demasiado blanca para mi tono de piel (aunque soy muy rubita). Como se trata de un polvo suelto bastante caro yo no lo compraría para el uso diario, pero si tienes un evento especial, ¿por qué no? Yo aplico con un broche de kabuki aunque viene con una esponjita para aplicarlo  muy suave y bonita. Es un producto magnífico, sin peso, natural y hace que la piel luzca saludable.

Kimonos

I like kimonos as they´re perfect for a spring and summer cover up. They´re light and elegant and give us a break from jackets and blazers. Here are my favourite picks in the shops at the moment. What do you think?

Me gustan los kimonos, son ideales para el entretiempo de primavera o taparse en los noches de verano. Son ligeros y elegantes y nos dan un descanso de las chaquetas y blazers. Aquí están mis selecciones favoritas en las tiendas en este momento. ¿Te gustan?

59,95 EUR from Zara

39,95 EUR from Zara

22.99 € from Pull & Bear

£27.50 by A Wear at Asos

Review: Benefit´s High Beam

I´ve always applied this over my cheekbones or under my brow bone and thought it´s a nice subtle highlighter with a gorgeous pale pinky pearly sheen. The texture is light and liquidy and its so easy to blend. The little bottle retails at about £18.50 but it lasts for ages. I think I will get Sunbeam soon, its a ´golden bronze´ version perfect for the summer. I also really like Bobbi Brown´s shimmerbrick, a lovely luxurious highlighter I had in tone beige which I once dropped on the bathroom floor and the rest is history.  Anyway as Benefit´s High Beam is so satiny and liqudy I discovered the trick of mixing a little into my foundation before applying it to the face. I don´t know why I only just starting doing this, I suppose I had always though it might end up looking ridiculously shiny. I was wrong! This is great little trick, it gives the skin a healthy glow when it catches the light, mix a little in on the back of your hand and then ta-da: instant radiance! Have you tried it? 

Siempre me he aplicado este sobre los pómulos o debajo de la cejas y pensaba que era un marcador bonito que tiene una hermoso brillo rosado nacarado. La textura es liquido y  ligero, y es tan fácil aplicar y extender. La botella dura mucho tiempo. Lo quiero comprarme Sunbeam también  es un tono dorado ´golden bronze´ perfecto por los meses de verano.También me gustan mucho los shimmerbrick de Bobbi Brown, son iluminadores preciosos de lujo, de lo cual yo tenia en tono Beige y una vez me ha caído en el suelo del baño y el resto es historia. Bueno he tenido mas suerte con High Beam de Benefit, y últimamente he descubierto el truco de mezclar un poco con el base de maquillaje en liquido. Yo no sé por qué sólo acaba de empezar haciendo esto, supongo que siempre imaginaba que podría dar aspecto de cara demasiado brillante y ridículo. Pero que va! Solo hay que mezclar una poquito con el base maquillaje, aplicarlo a la cara y toma! Este pequeño truco es genial, que da a la piel un brillo saludable cuando se capta la luz. ¿Lo has probado?

Purchase here or from the Boots site.

Review: Estee Lauder doublewear foundation and concealer

After loving my free sample of this foundation I pounced on it when it was on offer in a Spanish cosmetics store recently (see here). It´s a very special, super long-lasting foundation that gives me a flawless and even complexion. I think it has become my new favourite. Thinking about foundations for my wedding, I had tested Guerlain´s Parure Extreme, Make Up Forever´s HD Foundation and Revlon´s Colorstay Foundation, but this is the one that outperformed them all. I had to buy the concealer too which made my purchase notably more expensive but wow, its worth it. I got it in the lightest tone to use over imperfections and under my eyes. It´s creamy and give full coverage. The doublewear range from Estee Lauder is worth all the hype. Although I use Bourjois´s Healthy Mix or Lilylolo´s mineral foundation during weekdays, this product is ideal for going out at the weekend or special occasions, you could wear it every day but I think for me I prefer something lighter. So to conclude, its up there with the best foundations, I´d give it an A*. The only thing is I need to see how it photographs as it has a SPF10, if I see that my face has a white cast on photos I´m afraid I´m back to square one. Please share your thoughts, what do you think the perfect foundation is?

Después de enamorarme a mi muestra gratis de esta base me abalancé sobre él cuando estaba en oferta en la tienda Aromas de cosméticos españoles recientemente. Es un base de maquillaje muy especial, super duradero que me da un cutis perfecto y uniforme. Creo que se ha convertido en mi nuevo favorito. Pensando en bases de mi boda, yo había probado Parure Extreme de Guerlain , Make Up Forever HD y el base de Revlon ColorStay, pero esta es la que superó a todos. Tuve que comprar el corrector también, lo cual hizo que mi compra notablemente más caro, pero sin duda vale la pena. Lo tengo en el tono más claro de usar para tapar las imperfecciones y aplicar por el contorno de los ojos. Es cremoso y da una cobertura total. La gama doublewear de Estee Lauder se merece su buena fama. Aunque yo uso Bourjois Healthy Mix o el base Lilylolo de mineral durante los días de semana, este producto es ideal para salir los fines de semana o en ocasiones especiales, se podría usar todos los días, pero creo que para mí, prefiero algo más ligero día a día  Así que para concluir, su altura de los mejores bases, que le daría una nota de 10. Lo único es que tengo que ver cómo se retrata como tiene un SPF10, si veo que mi cara tiene un tono blanco en las fotos, temo que estoy de vuelta al punto de partida. Por favor comparta sus pensamientos, ¿qué crees que es la base perfecta?

Estee Lauder is availables here at Boots, here at Selfrides, or here on the official webpage.